Carolina's Gelinas to Sit Out

Published 8:00 pm, Sunday, February 3, 2002

Martin Gelinas will miss at least four more games for the Carolina Hurricanes because of a concussion, coach Paul Maurice said Monday.

Gelinas, a 14-year NHL veteran, was knocked unconscious by an elbow from Florida's Peter Worrell on Jan. 25 and had missed three games leading up to this past weekend's All-Star break.

Gelinas tried to skate Sunday, but his light workout did not go well, Maurice said.

"He had some symptoms from the workout, and I do not expect him back this week," Maurice said. "We are optimistic that the Olympic break will give him time to get back to normal."

That would mean Gelinas, who has nine goals and 12 assists in 51 games, would miss Tuesday night's game against Pittsburgh and road games against Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose before the two-week Olympic break.

"It's just a matter of when he can get back to being symptom-free," Maurice said. "The two or three days right after the concussion were very good, and I felt good about it. But days three and four weren't as good, and that's kind of how we've gone."

The Hurricanes were upset that the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Worrell wasn't suspended by the league for the head shot he gave Gelinas in the slot as Gelinas was looking down for the puck.

With Gelinas out with headaches, Maurice has had to juggle his top three lines. The top line against Pittsburgh will include Ron Francis, Sami Kapanen and Bates Battaglia. The second line will be Rod Brind'Amour, Erik Cole and Jeff O'Neill, while Josef Vasicek, Shane Willis and Kevyn Adams will play on the third line.

Gelinas had 23 goals and 29 assists a season ago _ his best year since getting 35 goals and 33 assists for Vancouver in 1996-97.

Maurice said it's unclear if Gelinas has a history of concussions, which could prolong his recovery.

"For 10 years he may have been getting them every second night. How do you know?" Maurice said. "I don't think it's his first one based on the way he plays."

The Gelinas injury is the fourth concussion for the Hurricanes in less than a year. Willis and Francis each received one in last year's first-round playoff matchup with New Jersey, and Willis got another one Nov. 9 against San Jose. Bryan Marchment was suspended by the NHL for six games for this season's hit on Willis.